Machine for making match books



March 23, 1937. w. c. HUGULEY MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCH BOOKS l0Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1954 March 23, 1937. w. c. HUGULY'2,074,694

MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCH BOOKS Filed Aug. 25, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENT ATTORNE March 23, 1937. w. c. HUGULEY I MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCHBOOKS Filed Aug. 25, 1934 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR March 23, 1937. w.c. HUGULEY I MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCH BOOKS Filed Aug. 23, 1934 10Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR icfif ATTORNEY March 23, 1937. I w c HUGULEY2,074,694

MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCH BOOKS Filed Aug. 23, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR ATTORNEY MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCH BOOKS Filed Aug. 25, 1954 10Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEY March 23, 1937. w. c. HUGULEY MACHINE FOR MAKINGMATCH BOOKS Filed Aug. 25, 1934 1O Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTORNEY March 23,1937. w, c, HUGULEY 2,074,694

MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCH BOOKS Filed Aug. 23, 1934 10 $heets-Sheet 9m-mw;

INVENTOR ATTO R N EY March 23, 1937. w. c. HUGULEY MACHINE FOR MAKINGMATCH BOOKS 1O Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 25, 1954 INVENTOR I 3% 6466 1ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1937 PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCH BOOKS William C. Huguley, Oak Tree, N. J.,asslgnor of one-fourth to E. F. Baerenrodt, Essex Falls,

. Application August 23, 1934, Serial No. 741,057

machine of the type which is designed to automatically place matches ina,cover strip and to stitch or otherwise secure the matches within thecover strip.

Match books, of the type referred to, commonly consist of a section ofmatches fastened into a cover strip, the cover strip being folded aboutthe matches to constitute an enclosure. The matches are secured in placewithin the cover by means of a single wire stitch or staple passingthrough the base of the match portion and piercing the cover strip tothus hold the parts of the book together. The matches em ployed in thesematch books as supplied to the trade are made of a specially preparedcardboard, cut into thin strips to constitute the individual matches. g

The section of cardboard from which the matches are made is usually notout throughout its entire width when the individual matches are formed,but has an uncut portion at the base of the matchesof sufiicient widthto receive the wire stitch which secures the matches and the cover striptogether. By this means the matches are all supported from the uncutportion and to remove a match it is merely necessary to tear it fromthis uncut portion of the cardboard strip.

One or more sections of matches are incorporated into a single book asdesired. The outer ends of the strips of cardboard constituting theindividual matches are dipped and are thus coated with a con poundsuitable for constituting the match head. As supplied by themanufacturer the matches are in strips of considerable length and thisstrip is, during the making of the match book, divided in sections ofwidth corresponding to the width required in each book.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a match bookmachine which is adapted to receive a strip of matches of widthsuflicient to form a plurality of match books and which is adapted todivide the match strip into a plurality of sections and simultaneouslyperform upon all the sections the operations necessary to the formationof a complete match book. The cover strips are supplied to the apparatusin the form of single covers, having been previously prepared with thedesired printing and striking surface as desired. The operation of theapparatus is entirely automatic and requires no attention whatsoeverother than to supply the machine from time to time with a quantity ofcover strips and to periodically start the match strips into the feedingmechanism in the desired multiples.

It is a particular object of the invention to divide the match stripssupplied'to the machine into a plurality of sections and then, bymechanism which is entirely automatic in its operation, place theseveral match sections within the respective cover strips, each matchsection being properly located centrally of its enclosing strip.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus of thistype in which the various steps necessary to the production of thefinished article are performed simultaneously on difierent articles insuccessive stages of progress through the apparatus and in which themechanisms performing the varioussteps of the operations are operated insynchronism' from a common power source. Thus at every cycle ofoperation of the apparatus not only is a single operation performed onseveral articles simultaneously, but all of the various operationsnecessary to the completion of the finished article are performedsimultaneously on different articles in successive stages of progressthrough the apparatus. At every cycle of operation of the apparatus acompleted match book is discharged from the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in an apparatus ofthe class described, certain novel features of structure and designwhereby bookmatches and similarly shaped articles are assembled side byside with the corresponding ends of the contiguous articles in oppositerelation to each other. In the machine match books, wedge-like ortapering in form (owing to the match heads of the covered cards orsplints) are discharged from an intermittently rotating table one at atime, with the thinner end of the book rearward. The said positioning orstacking member is mounted and operated by the same common source ofpower in such relation to the intermittently rotating table as toreceive the match books as rapidly as they are thus discharged andpositions them for delivery with their smaller or thinner endsalternately reversed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple andeflicient construction and arrangement of mechanism whereby the articlesdischarged from the positioning member are directly deposited side byside in a receptacle and therein assembled in a column, said receptaclebeing of such character that predetermined quantities of the articlescan be readily removed therefrom for convenience of packing by hand.

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism wherebythe efficient operation of the positioning, assembling and countingmechanism in harmony with the operation of the book match machine isaccomplished.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide a match bookassembling, stacking and counting machine which is an outstandingimprovement over present methods. The principal objects are to do awaywith the common method of using a chain conveyor or linked belt which issubject to stretching and thereby causing a defective product and alsoto have the books of matches delivered from the machine in a stacked andcounted formation, thereby, doing away with the costly operation of handsorting, stacking and counting which is common to the trade.

With the above and other objects in view, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine,

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing working parts,

Fig. 3 is an elevational parts,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of pressure finger operating mechanism and matchbook ejecting mechanism,

Fig. 5 is an elevational vi w of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the transfer device,

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the rotating device,

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of Fig. 8,

view showing working Fig. 10 is a plan view of the ejector for rotatingdevice and of the counting mechanism,

Fig. 11 is an levational view of Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 is a view showing the cover asit is opened to receive the matchcards,

Fig. 13 is' a view showing the pressure finger applying p essure onmatch cards before they are pushed all the way in, in order to checktheir travel at the end of a stroke and give the accurate positioning ofmatch cards,

Fig. 14 is a view showing match cards inserted all the way in with backsof match cards accurately positioned ready for back or short fold,

Fig. 15 is a view showing the first operation of back fold on cover,

Fig. 16 is a view showing the finish fold of the back fold and stapling,

Fig. 17 is a view of the finished product,

Fig. 18 is a view of match strips as they are introduced to the machinein any desired length, FiFigz. 19 is a fragmentary view of a portion ofFig. 20 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 1, v

21 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Referring to Fig. 2, Irepresents the top of frame work or support upon which the operatingmechanism of the apparatus is mounted. The matches as presented to themachine are of the usual type employed in match folders or books of thekind produced by the machine of this application. They are presented inthe form of strips, each strip being several times as wide as the widthof the group of matches incorporated in a single folder so that eachstrip of matches supplied to the machine will ultimately be divided intoa number of portions and incorporated into as manv covers. The stripshere shown in Fig. 18 are intended to be divided into ten differentsections so that for each strip of matches introduced, ten completefolders or books will be formed.

The apparatus is provided with an intermittently rotating table 2 whichis operated by means of a Geneva wheel 3, (see Fig. 2) and Geneva arm 4.The rotating table 2 has mounted upon its surface a number of receivingpockets 5 and also a corresponding number of pressure fingers 6 whichreceive their pressure from a coil spring 1 (see Fig. 12) mounted underone end of pressure finger 6.

A match strip receiving table 8 is provided at the front of the machineupon which an operator places two strips of matches together (one on topof the other) and pushes them into a slot in the direction of the arrow(Fig. 1) until the end of the strip has butted against the end of thepreceding match strips that are being automatically fed by means offeeding fingers 9. When the feeding finger 9 has engaged the end of thematch strips that the operator is feeding then the operator is free topick up two more match strips preparatory to placing them on table 8 asthe feeding finger then takes care of the feeding as soon as it hasengaged the end. Feed fingers 9 are provided with teeth on their lowersurface to fit in between the match splints so as to give a positivegrip. These feed fingers 9 are-operated back and forth and are mountedon a sliding bar In by means of studs H (see Fig. 2) upon which thefingers 9 are free to pivot a controlled amount which allows the teethon the lower surface to be lifted out of and clear of the match stripsbefore starting to return for another grip, and also allows them to setdown on the matches before starting its forward feeding stroke. The twofeeding fingers 9 are connected by means of a link l2 which is pushedback and forth by a sliding bar l3 mounted over and above sliding barl0. Sliding bar l3 has two driving dogs l4 mounted upon its surface thatengage a driving lug l5 which extends from the top side of a feed fingerconnecting link l2. It will be seen that as sliding bar l3 moves backand forth it in turn causes connecting link I! to move back and forth alike amount. the right or forward it in turn causes the feed finger 9 tolower and when it is pushed back or to the left it causes them to raise.Extending from the lower or under side of connecting link l2 there isanother projecting driving lug l6 which engages a pair of adjustablestops I! that are mounted on the upper surface of sliding bar l0. Bymeans of adjustable stops I! on the bar In that carries feed fingers 9 adefinite stopping and starting position of feed fingers 9 isaccomplished. The space or lost motion provided by these stops l1 permitthe fingers 9 to raise and lower before moving forward or backward aslug l6 must engage stop I 1 before bar III will advance. Sliding bar I3is connected by means of a link I8 to a crank l9 which is driven by achain 20 and sprockets 2|. It will be seen that sliding bar I3 isprovided with a constant reciprocating action by means of this link andcrank action, and in turn imparts a constant reciprocating action tolink I2 through dogs I 4 and lug I5, but bar I0 is allowed to dwell ateach end of the stroke to allow time for fingers 9 to raise and lower byWhen the link I2 is pushed to means of lost motion provided byadjustable stops H. The sliding bars I!) and I3 are mounted in brackets22. When feed fingers 9 have fed the end of match strips out and intothe path of travel of transfer slide at A to a definite position, acut-oif knife 24 descends and severe the proper amount from the matchstrip and the severed piece is allowed to rest in the transfer slidechannel at A (Fig. 1) preparatory to being transferred forward and intoa match cover that is in the pocket 5 of table 2. Simultaneous with thismatch card feed and cutting operation. a cover is fed, folded and placedinthe receiving pocket 5 on table 2. The knife 24- is preferablyactuated by the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 and hereinafter moreparticularly described.

Referring to station- B (Figs. 1, 2, 19 and 20) on table I at the leftside toward the rear thereof is a bracket 25 upon which is supported ahopper or magazine 26 containing a stack of fiat cover blanks 5' withthe striking material already applied. Mounted in a horizontal guidewayin bracket 25 and directly beneath the hopper 26 is a slide 21' whichconstitutes the bottom of the hopper. The portion of the slide beneaththe hopper is provided in its upper surface with a series of verticalperforations 28. which communicate with a chamber 29 within the slide.This chamber is connected at one end with a flexible tube 30 incommunication with a suitable exhaust fan or vacuum pump, whereby air isexhausted from the chamber, and the lowermost blank in the hopper isthus held flat and in position by.

" may be employed for actuating the slide. In the present instance avertical lever 3| (Fig. 3) is fulcrumed to depending bracket 32 on thetable, the upper' or shorter arm being pivotally connected with theslide-by link 33 and the longer arm of the lever being provided with atrunnion roller 34 in engagement'with the grooved periphery of cam 35.This cam is carried by a longitudinally disposed shaft 36 which ismounted in suitable hearings in the main frame and connected with othershafting by means of bevel gears and run by a common source of power.

On the front side of bracket 25 is bolted a segmental member 31 (Figs.2, 3, 19) of a width greater than the cover blank. In this member isformed from top tobottom a curved passage 38, the outer side of which isopen, and its top is below the approximate center of the blank withdrawnfrom the hopper by the suction slide 21.

A curved blade 39 corresponding with the passage is adapted to be swunginto and from the same. The blade in its downward stroke engages theopposing cover blank, and tucks it down into the passage, therebyeffecting the folding of such cover blank at a predetermined spot at theapproximate center of the blank and carries the blank bodily through thecurved passage and sets the folded blank within one of the pockets 5 onthe intermittently rotating circu' lar table 2. To prevent the foldedcover 5' from attempting to follow the return of the curved blade, twoshoulders 40 are' provided for at the lower end of curved passageway 38into which the covers spring open when they have reached the end oftheir travel downward and enter respective pockets on the circulartable.

pocket on the table is caused to raise while the cover is being insertedand then is lowered down on the cover previous to the table's rotationto brackets 43 rising from the table.

prevent the cover from being dislodged. This mechanism is shown in Figs.5 and 6 and will be hereinafter described.

The blade 39 is borne by an arm 4| which is mounted on a rock-shaft 42that has its bearing On the shaft 42 is an arm 44 which is connected bya link 45 to a cam fork 46 (see Fig. 2) which is provided with atrunnion roller 41 in engagement with the grooved periphery of cam 48.This cam is carried by a transversely disposed shaft 49 which is mountedin suitable bearings in the main frame and connected by bevelgears to acommon source of power, through other shafting in the machine,

It is to be noted that the construction and organization of the partsjust described are such that when the folding blade 39 is in the upwardposition, the slide 21 is pushed forward to carry the cover blankdirectly under the blade. The blade then descends upon the blank. Theslide remains at rest for an instant after this operation and then movesback towards the hopper 26 toreceive another cover blank. When the slideis about half way back the folding blade has reached its extremedownward position. In the' next or return stroke of the blade the slidecontinues back to its starting position under the hopper in readiness topush forward the next succeeding cover blank.

The circular table 2, previously referred to, consists of a fiatcircular table with a plurality of pockets 5 and spring pressure fingers6 mounted upon its-top surface at its outer rim. These pressure fingers6 must be mechanically raised at different positions of the circulartable. This mechanism is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and is composed of astationary platen or table 50 mounted over and above the intermittentlyrotating circular table 2 and supported by suitable uprights from frametable I on one end and resting upon shoulders provided on brackets 43 atthe other end. This stationary table serves as a mounting for variousbrackets and bearings accomplished by the mechanism that is mounted uponthe stationary. table. On the back end and on top .of each pressurefinger is fixed a button 5! with a convex surface at which point thedepressing levers engageit. Mounted in brackets .52 supported by table50 is a cam shaft 53 driven from a common source of power which carriesfour cams 5'4, 55, 56, 51 for operating three pressure finger depressinglevers and the finished book ejecting lever. The levers are kept incontact with the cams by means of springs (not shown).

Station C iswhere the folded cover is deposited in a pocket 5 on thetable at which time, just previous to the cover reaching pocket, the cam54 engaging trunnion roller 58 mounted on the lever 59 with its lowerend projecting downward through table 50 to a point designated as Funder which the concave button 5| will come to rest, causes lever 59 tobe depressed at point F and by contact with button 5| on the pressurefinger 6 causes the other end of the finger to be raised and at the sametime compressing coil spring I. When the cover has entered pocket andits ends have sprung open into shoulders 48 and cause the pressurefinger to lower down on,

the cover in the pocket, thereby holding the cover' from being shiftedor dislodged during movement of the circular table. This pressure fingerthen stays down on the cover until the table has brought it to locationD (Fig. 4) at which point cam 55 through its rotation engages trunnionroller 68 mounted on lever 6| which is extended downward through table56 to a point similar to F. When the convexed button 5| comes to restunder lever 6| at G then the cam 55, just previous to the'match cardsreaching the cover for insertion, pushes downward on lever 6| causingpoint G to press down on convexed button 5| on the pressure finger andthereby raise the outer end of the pressure finger which is holding theinserted cover blank in a folded condition in its pocket. By nature ofthe cover 5 blank being folded over and not creased the cover hasconsiderable spring to it, and when the pressure finger 6 is raisedupward the cover flap naturally follows it upward and causes the coverto open up to receive the match cards that are being transferred to it.When the match cards have been inserted approximately half way into thefolded cover the finger, through the rotation of cam 55 causes the lever6| to be raised and allows the pressure finger to lower down on top ofthe cover flap thereby putting a. downward pressure through coil spring1, upon the match cards that are being inserted before they have beeninserted all the way. This is done as a distinct improvement in bookmatch manufacture, as heretofore the match cards were pushed by theheads which vary and cause considerable loss during manufacture due to adistorted product that was not marketable. While the transfer slide ispushing the match cards into the cover, it naturally squares up the backof the match cards due to the resistance received from the pressurefinger pressing down on the cards while they are being pushed forward totheir correct position. In this way, it will be seen that the backs oruncut portion of the match cards are always placed in a definitelocation in a cover blank, and in consequence, no variation in the backor shortfold will result regardless of the variation that might occur inthe heads of the matches. These operations are shown in Figs. 12, 13,14.

The pressure finger is then allowed to remain upon the cover with itsmatch cards inserted to hold the same by means of coil spring 1 whilethe circular table is being rotated intermittently to a. point at Hwhere the cover, its underside with friction or striking surface thereonprojecting out beyond the circular table, is ready to be folded upwardand over the back of the match cards and to be stapled. These operationsare shown in Figs. 15 and 16. While the match book is dwelling atstation H (Fig. 4), which is the back-folding and stitching station, thepressure finger continuing to apply its pressure upon the book, thevertical slide 62 mounted in holder l6 and pivotally connected to lever63 fulcrumed in bracket 64 (see Fig. 2) the lever 63 being Jconnected tolink 65 which engages cam 66, is caused to be moved upward by therotation of cam 66 mounted on transverse shaft 61. When 1 slide, 62moves upward its upper end creates the first upward fold as in Fig. 15.In this position slide 62 is allowed to dwell while lever 68 whichperforms the second fold on the back is allowed to swing in and completethe fold (see Fig. 16). Lever 68 is fulcrumed in bracket 64 and is piv--otally connected to link 69 which is connected to cam 10 mounted ontransverse shaft 61. While lever 68 is in its forward position it isallowed to dwell there together with slide 62 causing the cover to beheld in a firm position for stitching. Lever 68 with its protrudingfolding blade 68' mounted upon its upper end being allowed to dwell inits forward position while the stitching is being done has the centerpart of said folding blade cut out at 68 to allow the staple to passthrough it on its way into and through the book. While lever 68 is inthis position the stitching mechanism II is operated and the book ofmatches is complete.

The mechanism for binding the match cards and their covers togetherrequires no detailed illustration or description. For this purpose Iemploy an ordinary wire stitching machine indicated at H by means ofwhich staples are formed from wire, driven through the sheets or cardsfrom one side thereof and clinched on the reverse or under side. Iprovide this stitcher with a clinching anvil 14 fastened to block 15resting upon holder 16. The stitcher H is fastened to bracket 13 and isdriven'by shaft 12 with bearings in brackets 13 and connected to acommon source of power through bevel gearing and vertical shaft 11.

After the stitching operation is finished, slide 62 and lever '68 areallowed to recede from the finished book through the rotation of cams 66and 10. The pressure finger is still holding the book in its pocket onthe table, and continues to do so during the rotation of the tableintermittently to position E (Fig. 4). At this position the book must bereleased and ejected.

When the book has reached position E, then cam 51 (Fig. 5) through itsrotation and contact with trunnion roller 84 on lever 82, which projectsdownward through plate 58 to a point J directly over the convexed buttonon the pressure finger, causes the convexed button to be depressed,compressing the coil spring 1 and causing pressure finger 6 (Fig. 5) tobe raised, thus releasing the finished book of matches. The pressurefinger is kept up in this position by a dwell on the cam 51 while theejecting lever 19 is allowed to eject the book. The ejecting lever 19 ispivoted at in bracket 8| mounted on table 50 and carries a trunnionroller 18 which engages cam 56. After pressure finger 6 is raised thencam 56 which is rotating causes ejecting lever 19 to swing outward andend K of the ejecting lever describes an arc, and engages the book to bepushed off the circular table into transfer arm 82 which is mounted atthe back of the machine and. adjacent to the circular table. Mountedadjacent to the transfer arm is a stop 83 (Fig. 6) which stops the bookfrom going through the slot in the transfer arm. Lever 18 (Fig. 5) isallowed to rest in the transfer arm 82. This is accomplished by a dwellon cam 56. Lever 19 is then allowed to return to its receded or normalposition and cam 51 which is rotating allows lever 82 to raise and clearthe pressure finger 6, freeing it to continue on to receive anothercover at position C (Fig. 4) Lever I9 is divided at end K and the twosides pass on either side of the pressure fingers 6 thereby engaging thebook at the portion that extends beyond the pressure fingers.

The finished book has now" been deposited in the transfer arm 82 withits thin end or stitched end rearward. Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 inwhich 92 is the transfer arm in an upright position, this transfer armis designed and operated so as to revolve on its axis 9| one quarter ofa turn and this position is dotted in as 92 (Fi '7.) It will be seenthat when ejector lever 19 (Fig. 5) has pushed the finished book out ofpocket on circular table into this transfer arm 82 in its uprightposition, then the book will be lying flat in the slot of arm 82 andthen when the arm 82 revolves one quarter turn to 92, then the book willbe standing on its side in the slot.

This transfer arm 82 is pivotally connected to cam operated lever 86 bymeans of connecting link 85. Cam lever 88 has a trunnion roller 81 whichengages with the grooved periphery of cam 20 88 and is pivoted frombracket 89. Cam 88 is mounted on the transverse shaft 81 which ismounted in suitable hearings in the main frame work of the machine andis driven from a common source of power by means of-bevel gearing. I nowhave the book of matches standing on its side or edgewise ready tobetransferred to the book rotator 99 which has a vertical slot in it (Fig.6) to receive the book of matches when it is pushed out of the transferarm 82. A stop 93 is mounted on bracket 94 which in turn is mounted onthe main frame table top I. This stop serves to check the book fromgoing too far when being transferred to rotator 99. The purpose of thisrotator is to turn the books of matches in their proper position forstacking. As the books are tapered or wedge-shaped every other book mustbe turned the opposite way, in order that they i will stack in astraight line. This is accomplished by first turning the rotator one wayand then the next book is turned the opposite way by reason of therotator having revolved the opposite way. I

In other words, the rotator first'rotates to the left and then to theright. At each turn of the rotator the book therein is pushed out'of theslot into the receiving magazine where it is stacked. Referring to Fig.6, 95 represents the slot in its rotated position at which time theejector blade 98 (Fig. 1) causes the book to be ejected into magazine91.. The mechanism for blade 98 is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 andhereinafter more particularly described.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, 98 is the pusher that causes the book to beejected from the transfer arm 83. This pusher 98 is fastened to avertical projection 99 which is a part of an oscillating slide I99 whichis mounted on the under side of the table top I and held in place by apair of ways I9 I. The vertical projection 99 extends upward through aslot in table I. The oscillating slide I99 has a cam roller I92 fastenedto its under side by means of shouldered stud I93. Mounted on the underside of table I and oscillating at right angles to slide I99 is a slideI94 held in place by a pair of ways I95 and pivotally connected at I98to cam lever I91 which in turn is pivoted atpits lower end to a suitablebracket resting on the main bed of the machine. At its center section acam roller I98 is mounted and engages in a grooved periphery of cam I99which is mounted on the transverse shaft 49 of the.

cam roller I92 will cause slide I99 to oscillate engage the match bookin the transfer arm 82.

at position 92 and push the. book rearwardout of the transfer arm 82 andinto the rotator 99.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, where 99 is the rotator with its verticalslot for receiving the books from the transfer arm, the under part of 99extends downward through table I to the under side where a gear. I II isfastened on the lower end. This gear III engages with an oscillatingrack II2 which is held in place on the under side of the table I by apair of ways I I3 and is pivotally connected at II4 with a link H5 whichinturn is pivotally connected with a cam lever II8 which is pivoted to abracket at its lower end that is fastened to the main bed plate of themachine.

I I8 is caused to be run at half speed thereby permitting the use of adouble-throw cam as at I22 and I23. It will be seen that when cam throwI22 is operating then the rack slide II2 will go in one direction andwhen the cam throw I23 is operating the rack slide will travel in theopposite direction. 'In this manner the rotator will first turn to theright and then it will turn to the left. The cam throws, I22 and I23 aredesigned with a dwell to allow the rotator 99 to stand still asufiicient length of time at the end of each rotation to allow therotator ejector 96 to move forward through the slot in rotator and ejectthe book into the magazine 91.

mounted to theunder side of table I and held in place by a pair of waysI25. This slide I24 is pivotally connected to a link I26, which in turnis connected to a cam lever I21 which pivoted at its lower end to asuitable bracket mounted on the main bed of the machine. At about thecenter of cam lever I21 a cam roller I28 is mounted which runs in thegrooved periphery of a cam I29 mounted on the transverse shaft 81 of themachine.

Referring-to Fig. 6, when the rotator ejector blade 98 (Fig. 10) haspushed a book of matches out of the slot in the rotator into themagazine 91', then it becomes necessary to push the book rearward intothe magazine to make way for the next book that is to come. This isaccomplished by means of a pusher pad I39 (Fig. 6) which is pivotallyconnected to lever I3I which is pivoted at I34 with a stop pin I32 tocontrol the normaf position and a coil spring I33 adapted to exert apressure against the lever I3l. When the pusher 98 is moving rearward topush a book of matches out of the transfer arm 82 the same pushercontacts lever I3I and causes pusher pad I39 to also move rearward andpressing against the book that has been moved in front of it by ejectorblade 98 (Fig. 10) to move rearward into the magazine, making room forthe next book that is to follow. Ejector pad I39 has a coiled spring I35under each side to enable the pad I39 to swivel at I89 thereby allowingthe pad to adapt itself to the wedge-like shape of the book as it ispushing the same.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11 showing the counting mechanism, I36 is aslide which is mounted on top of the table I adjacent to the magazine91, and held in place by a pair of ways I31. One end of slide I36 isnarrow and designed to push on the end of a book of matches and theother end has a cam roller I38 mounted on it which engages with the camI39 mounted on a shaft I40, mounted in bearings of two brackets I whichare fastened to the top of table I of the main framework, Shaft I40 isdriven by a train of compound gearing I42, the driving gear of which ismounted on transverse shaft 49 of the machine. By means of this compoundgearing I42, the ratio of which in this particular case is 1 to 25, thecam is caused to rotate one twentyfifth as fast as the machine cycle.This cam I39 which engages cam roller I38 causes slide I36 toreciprocate back and forth and at each stroke it engages the end of onebook of matches and pushes it out of line with the rest of the stack. Itwill be seen that as the books are advanced along the magazine 91, thatevery twenty-fifth book, in this case, will be projected out of linewith the stack, thereby enabling the packing operator to pick up thebooks in units of twentyfive and to place them in containers. Themagazine 91 is equipped with suitable flat spring pressure fingers (notshown) which bear down on the books of matches while they are beingadvanced in the magazine so as to keep the books from springing ahead orbeing dislodged. In this man- 5 ner a uniform tension is given to thestack of books.

Referring to Fig. 3 which shows the match card cutting mechanism andtransfer slide, a cut-off die I43 is mounted at the end of the table,and slot 8 is directly beneath the cut-ofi blade 24, which is adjustablyfastened to a rocker arm I44 that is pivoted on a bracket I45, which inturn is fastened to the top side of the table I. Rocker arm I44 ispivotally connected to link I45 which is fastened to a cam fork I41which has a cam roller I48 mounted on it and engaging the groovedperiphery of cam I49, mounted on the longitudinal shaft I50 of themachine, which shaft is mounted in suitable bearings at 50 either endand connected by bevel gearing to the other shafts in the machine. Thisshaft is the main driving shaft of the machine and has a motor attachedto it by means of sprockets and chain. This motor also drives thesuction fan to provide the suction for the cover feeding slide 21. Itwill be seen that at each revolution of the cam I49, the cutter bladedescends and cuts ofi a predetermined length of match card from thematch tstgilpsathat are being fed through the slot of When this matchcard is cut off it comes to rest in front of the transfer slide 23 whichtravels through a guide that is slightly wider than the match card thathas been cut off. As soon 65 as cutter blade 24 has raised a sufficientamount so as to allow the transfer slide 23 to pass underneath it, thenthe transfer slide moves forward and pushes the match cards ahead of ituntil they have been put into the folded cover in 70 pocket 5 oncircular table 2. Transfer slide 23 is pivotally connected to a link I5Iwhich in turn is connected to cam lever I52 that is pivotally connectedat its lower end to a bracket I53 mounted on the main bed of themachine. At 75 about the center of the cam lever I 52 a cam roller I54is mounted which engages with the grooved periphery of cam I55 that ismounted on longitudinal shaft I50 of the machine. It will be seen thatfor each revolution of cam I55 a pair of match cards will be placed intheir respective pockets on the circular table 2.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive andillustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of theinvention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed includingmany modifications without departing from the general scope hereinindicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine for making match books, a

' rotating horizontal table, means on said table for receiving andretaining match book covers, a magazine for holding a plurality ofcovers in a flat condition, an arcuate chute adjacent said I magazineand having an arcuate slot extending the length thereof, pneumatic meansfor placing a cover over one end of the chute, a member movable in saidslot, said member engaging a cover intermediate the length thereof tofold the cover and move the cover through the chute into the receivingand retaining means on the table, and shoulders on the chute at thedischarge end thereof to engage and prevent the cover from followingsaid member after the cover has been deposited on the table.

2. In a machine for making match books, a rotating horizontal table, amagazine for holding a plurality of covers in a flat condition, anarcuate chute adjacent said magazine and having an arcuate slot in oneof its side walls, said slot extending the length of the chute, a membermovable in said slot, means for placing a cover from the magazine in aposition to be engaged by said member, said member engaging the coverintermediate its length to fold the cover and move the cover through thechute on to the rotating table, and means at the discharge end of thechute to prevent the cover from following said member after the coverhas been deposited on the table.

3. In a machine for making match books, a horizontal rotating table, amagazine for holding a plurality of covers in a flat condition, a chutepositioned adjacent said magazine and having a slot in one of its sidewalls extending the length of the chute, a member movable in said slot,means for moving a cover from the magazine to a position over one end ofthe chute and in the path of the member, said member engaging said coverintermediate its length to fold the cover and move the cover through thechute on to the rotating table, and means at the discharge end of thechute to prevent the cover from following the member after the cover hasbeen deposited on the table.

4. In a machine for making match books, an intermittently horizontalrotating table, means on the table forreceiving and retaining match bookcovers, means for folding and inserting covers in the receiving andretaining means with the folded ends of the covers toward the center ofthe table, and means for feeding match cards having headed splints tothe circular table and placing said cards in their respective coversparallel to the body portions of the covers in predetermined positionsrelative to the covers with the heads of the splints directed towardsand spaced from the folded ends of the covers.

acaaaea of the cover. blanks being directed towards the center of thetable, and means holding said match cards in predetermined positions onthe cover blanks.

6. In a machine for making match books, a rotating circular table havingmounted about its outer rim a plurality of cover holding devices withpressure fingers, means for supporting match strips tangentially of thepath of travel of said table, means for severing said strips into matchcards of a predetermined width, means for advancing match cards to thetable and with-.

in folded cover blanks held by said devices, said cards being advancedand placed into the cover blanks with the heads of the match cardsforemost; and means for applying a frictional resistance to the matchcards during the last part of blanks to definitely locate the cards withreference to the cover blanks irrespective of variations in the size andshape of the match heads,

thereby enabling a uniform short fold of the cover blanks.

7. In a machine for making match books, an intermittently rotatedcircular table, a plurality of clamping devices mounted on the table forholding folded cover blanks, means for operating said clamping devices,means for inserting cover blanks into said devices, means for actuatingthe circular table, and means for feeding under frictional resistanceheaded match cards to the circular table and feeding said cards headsforemost into cover blanks.

8. In a machine for making match books, a circular table, means forintermittently rotating the table, a plurality of clamping devicesmounted on the table about the periphery thereof,

means for inserting folded cover blanks into said clamping devices, andmeans to open and close said clamping devices at predetermined periodswithout releasing their hold on the cover blanks.

'wmLlAM c. HUGULEY.

